Top in cardiology: Implications of new ASCVD risk calculator; benefits of salt reduction

The American Heart Association’s PREVENT equations predicted that people with stage 1 hypertension have a lower 10-year risk for atherosclerotic CVD compared with the Pooled Cohort Equations.

The findings could mean fewer prescriptions of antihypertensive medication for primary prevention, although the PREVENT equations also calculate 30-year estimates that should be taken into consideration.

“Many people may not have a heart attack or stroke, or develop heart failure in the next few years, yet they may benefit from lowering their blood pressure to protect them against having a heart attack, stroke or heart failure later in life,” Paul Muntner, PhD, MHS, FAHA, visiting professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a press release.

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

In another top story, people who consume a high amount of sodium can lower their risk for atrial fibrillation if they reduce their salt intake to no more than 6 g per day, according to a study. The researchers found that every 1 g of salt above 6 g increased the risk for incident atrial fibrillation by 10%.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

New risk calculator may reduce number of patients suggested for BP-lowering medication

Ten-year atherosclerotic CVD risk for people with stage 1 hypertension was substantially lower when estimated with the new PREVENT equations vs. the Pooled Cohort Equations, researchers reported. Read more.

Restricting salt in patients with high intake could be effective for atrial fibrillation prevention

Salt reduction in patients who have high daily sodium intake and are at high risk for atrial fibrillation may lower risk for incident AF, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Obesity in young adulthood linked to adverse heart structure, function later in life

People with excess adiposity in young adulthood were more likely to have adverse cardiac structure and function later in life compared with people without it, researchers reported in the European Heart Journal. Read more.

Interventions led by pharmacists, community health workers most effective at lowering BP

In a meta-analysis of trials of blood pressure-lowering interventions, those led by pharmacists and community health workers resulted in more BP lowering than those led by other professionals, researchers reported. Read more.

Smart ring that can detect atrial fibrillation launched

Ultrahuman announced it launched a platform for apps and plugins built on a health and wellness data stack, the first to be done in a smart ring form factor. Read more.